Bob’s Burgers – Christmas In The Car – Season 4, Episode 8

At Linda’s insistence, the Belchers go in search of a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

Synopsis: Christmas Eve has arrived on schedule but the Belchers are without a tree and Linda convinces Bob they need to drive an hour to the nearest tree lot open on Christmas Eve – setting them up for a highway “Duel” with an evil giant candy cane truck driver [Bobcat Godlthwait].

Details: Due to a variety of plausible and semi-plausible circumstances – one being that Linda bought their tree in early November – the Belcher family find themselves without a suitable Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. As this is clearly unacceptable, Linda convinces Bob to embark on a one-hour drive into the country to the nearest Christmas tree lot open on Christmas Eve where they can have the “pick of the runts”.

Since they will be out of the house for what Louise suspects will be a long time, she devises a plan to snag Santa while he’s delivering their gifts – essentially a bear trap-like ring that will enclose the wrist when Santa is going for the milk and cookies. But instead, when Bob calls Teddy to ask him to go into their home and turn off the oven with the ham in it – it is Teddy who is snared instead of Santa.

Meanwhile, back at the Christmas tree lot, a tree has been selected and loaded onto the roof only to have Bob get the car stuck in the snow while backing out of the lot – and it just so happens to be blocking the road while a giant truck in the shape of a candy cane is coming down the road. The trucker is unimpressed by Bob’s predicament and instead of coming out and offering to help push the stuck Bob out of his rut, decides to honk his horn. Linda retaliates by honking their car horn to the tune of “Jingle Bells” and a prolonged honk-off ensues before Bob finally frees the car.

…leaving Teddy to get caught in Louise’s Santa trap when he goes to the Belcher home to turn off the oven.

The trucker goes on his way but Bob catches up and decides to pass the crazy candy cane truck driver, leading to a road ragesque duel that only briefly stops when Bob, under pressure from the truck driver behind him, skids off into the parking lot of a roadside diner serving Dutch Babies. A police officer sits at a table by the Belchers and Bob tries to tell him about the crazy candy cane truck driver but the police officer is just trying to enjoy his Dutch Baby and refuses to take Bob or his story seriously.

This leaves Bob no choice but to go back out onto the road where the crazy candy cane truck driver is waiting for him on a bridge and nearly traps them on the bridge. Bob barely escapes and then evades the crazy candy cane truck driver by darting onto a side road – only to get stuck in the snow again. The crazy candy cane truck driver comes from the opposite direction and traps Bob and the family again – only this time there is no escape so Bob brokers a deal where he allows the crazy candy cane truck driver to punch him in exchange for helping them out of the snow.

The Poop and Skinny: The episode is an homage/parody/spoof of “Duel”- a 1971 film starring Dennis Weaver as the meek driver of an economy car engaging in a highway duel with a crazy, faceless trucker that was Steven Spielberg’s first feature film.

Louise is outed by Bob as being nine years old.

A Dutch Baby is essentially a giant pancake/popover hybrid that may or may not have fillings – depending on personal preferences.

The show will be on holiday hiatus until January 5, 2014 with “Uncle Teddy” – which finds Teddy babysitting the kids while Bob and Linda are out of town at a burger convention.

The ToonZone Gold Best Line of the Episode Medal – “I’ve got a ham in the oven.” – Bob, unaware that he’s just issued a euphemism for having to fart.

The ToonZone Silver Second-Best Line of the Episode Medal – “This is really good – you can’t even taste the baby!” – Gary’s assessment after eating the culinary delicacy known as a Dutch Baby.

The ToonZone Bronze Third-Best Line of the Episode Medal – “I told you we should have had a motorcycle with four side cars – then we wouldn’t be in this mess!” – Gene, after Bob gets the car stuck in the snow.

Right Side Store Neighbor of the Week – “Nog, Nog, Who’s There? Nog”.

Van of the Week – “Sugar and Spice, Everything Nice Pest Control”.

Burger of the Week – None because it’s Christmas Eve and they’re not working in the restaurant – instead, Linda has them out hunting for Christmas trees.

…while Bob and the family are otherwise occupied by hiding from a crazy truck driver driving a giant candy cane-shaped truck.